Bengaluru: The Indian Railways is going for a complete makeover, which includes installing CCTV cameras at stations and inside trains to increase safety and security of commuters.
The new project will be implemented in select 6,500 stations and trains in the initial phase, and later at all stations and trains. All the trains will also be fitted with bio-vacuum toilets, which are similar to the ones used in aircraft. Train coaches too will be redesigned and efforts are on at various coach-manufacturing factories across the country. These coaches will have LED light fixtures, better signboards, comfortable seating and easier ways to get on to upper berths. The new coaches will also have less weight, allowing trains to reach higher speeds. The entire project is aimed at increasing the average speed of trains to 120 -160 kmph across the country by upgrading the tracks and signalling.
The colour scheme of trains will also be changed and the first train with the new theme, Delhi-Pathankot Express, will roll out by this month-end. The new colour scheme is beige and brown as against the earlier combo of dark and light blue.
"All these proposals and projects are at trial phase and nothing has been finalised yet," said R.D. Vajpee, a senior railway official, told Deccan Chronicle.
Top level officials said that premium trains, like Shatabdi, Duronto and Rajdhani, will still carry old colours as the new theme is only for mail and express trains that still carry conventional coaches. "A complete makeover of coaches was long overdue and the new colour scheme has been approved by Railways Minister Piyush Goyal," said Mr Vajpee.
Asked about railway projects specific to Bengaluru, he said, "Nothing has been approved and there is nothing in the pipeline too."
Mr Goyal was quoted as saying, "We have started experimenting with bio-vacuum toilets. Some 500 vacuum bio toilets have been ordered and once the experiment is successful, I am willing to spend money to replace all 2.5 lakh toilets in trains with vacuum bio toilets."
